Kazakhstan's President Kasim-Yomart Tokayev announced today that he had ordered the army to intervene to restore order and end the riots that began over the increase in the retail price of energy, but seem to have quickly turned into an uprising.
Battle with paratroopers
"Terrorist gangs" have been involved in a paratrooper battle in Almaty, the head of state has said, adding that Kazakhstan is not just facing a "threat" but a danger of overthrowing "the state".
Video of civilians arresting soldiers
NOW - Citizens in #Kazakhstan detain military personnel as violent anti-government protests continue to roil the country.pic.twitter.com/MfzpKNPsA8
- Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) January 5, 2022
https://twitter.com/theragex/status/1478825699259695112
Mr Tokayev also confirmed that he had requested military assistance from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), an organization that includes former Soviet-led Soviet republics.
Earlier, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Armenian Prime Minister Nicole Pasinian, confirmed that a "peacekeeping mission" would be deployed in Kazakhstan at Almaty's request.
Almaty Deputy Mayor Ersan Babakumarov announced that the occupation of the city's airport had ended.
Several airlines were forced to cancel flights to and from the city after it was occupied by crowds on Wednesday.
Several channels on the Telegram platform have posted videos immortalizing army operations against protesters, some in Almaty. The videos show fire and screams.
Security forces have entered the Kazakh city hoarded together, as eyewitnesses and social media video show 'LIVE' gun fire and fighting pic.twitter.com/m6M3zJuiD7
- RT (@RT_com) January 5, 2022
Eight police officers were killed
Prior to President Tokayev's announcements, the Interior Ministry confirmed the deaths of eight National Guard officers and men and the injuries of 317 others.
He did not report any casualties among the protesters. There is information about thousands of injured.
Protests over the rise in gas prices over the weekend have turned into real battles over the past two days.
Security forces are reportedly returning to Almaty https://t.co/YNMMAUZ7h3 pic.twitter.com/N892OnFBN2
- Liveuamap (@Liveuamap) January 5, 2022
The government submitted its resignation to the president, who announced that he accepted it. Rumors that Mr. Tokayev himself was also going to resign or leave the country were categorically refuted by him.
State of Emergency announced in Kazakhstan as massive anti-government protests develop into widespread rioting. The military may now be on the streets - but it does not look like the ppl are gonna be intimidated. Solidarity with the ppl of Kazakhstan. pic.twitter.com/NxBwstux6t
- GhostofDurruti (@ RobTheRich0001) January 4, 2022
The resignation of the government did nothing but de-escalate the protests. The whole country was declared a state of emergency yesterday.
The interruption of access to the Internet, which is believed to have been ordered by the authorities to make communication between the organizers of the demonstrations difficult, makes communications difficult.
The largest producer of uranium
The eyes of the great powers are on Kazakhstan as the Asian country accounts for almost half of the world's uranium supply and ranks first in world uranium production.
Kazakhstan's national uranium mining company, Kazatomprom, is the largest uranium production company in the world. However, the Central Asian country ranks second in terms of uranium reserves.
Uranium mining has provided the main fuel for nuclear power generation for the last 60 years and today nuclear power serves 10% of the world's energy needs.
Kazatomprom worker monitors uranium oxide radiation level at East Mynkuduk PV-19 uranium mine in southern Kazakhstan (Reuters photo)
Analysts estimate that global uranium demand will increase in the coming years, and will be a factor that will positively affect the price of uranium.
Global uranium production in 2019 reached 53.656 tons of U3O8.
The top five uranium production countries in the world are Kazakhstan, Canada, Australia, Namibia and Niger, which provide the vast majority of this production.
Analysts estimate that global uranium demand will increase in the coming years, and will be a factor that will positively affect the price of uranium.
Global uranium production in 2019 reached 53.656 tons of U3O8.
The top five uranium production countries in the world are Kazakhstan, Canada, Australia, Namibia and Niger, which provide the vast majority of this production.
Kazakhstan is also an exporter of clean energy with large reserves of oil, gas, coal and uranium.
And it holds a prominent geostrategic position as Russia sees it as a bulwark against China, which is steadily penetrating Central Asia, into areas that have been part of the Russian Empire for years.
, Wikipedia, bankingnews.gr, Bloomberg
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